INEC Takes Fresh Action on ADC After Supreme Court Ruling
- INEC reversed its decision to derecognise the leadership of David Mark, the former Senate president, in the ADC
- The decision came hours after the Supreme Court set aside the ruling of the Court of Appeal regarding the crisis rocking the ADC leadership
- INEC had earlier removed Mark’s name as party chairman from its website, but it reappeared after the Supreme Court ruling
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reverted to its original position on the leadership crisis rocking the coalition-adopted African Democratic Congress, by recognising the David Mark-led leadership of the party.
Earlier on Thursday, April 30, the Supreme Court affirmed Mark as the leader of the ADC, dismissing the Court of Appeal's ruling that led to the derecognition of the former Senate president's leadership of the party.
Source: Twitter
Recall that Nafiu Bala's faction of the party had challenged the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership group. The ruling of the Court of Appeal led to the derecognition of Mark's leadership by INEC, a development that sparked outrage among Nigerians.
However, the Supreme Court set aside the Court of Appeal's injunction and ordered the parties involved to return to the trial court. Reacting to the development, INEC consequently recognised David Mark's leadership and displayed his name as the chairman of the ADC on its website.
ADC yet to face real test - Analyst
Meanwhile, Omotayo Yusuf, a political analyst, while reacting to the development in an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, maintained that the party was yet to be tested in real time, specifically not until it conducts its primaries and the outcome is well managed.
His statement reads:
"We have not reached the point where the party would be really tested yet. We cannot say for certain that the party's current leadership is going to withstand an internal crisis during the primary election. I will tell you why. Peter Obi has vowed to be on the ballot and to contest at all costs. Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, has spoken about 2027 being his last attempt at the presidency, meaning he is sure to run.
"Amaechi has been going around meeting party leadership and expressing confidence in the fact that he will run as a presidential aspirant under the ADC. Those are three key aspirants that we are aware of. There are other people on the sidelines. Therefore, until a candidate emerges and we see the process through which that candidate emerges, we will not know how well the ADC will be able to withstand an internal crisis."
Recall that the ADC rose to prominence ahead of the 2027 general election after the coalition movement adopted the party as its political platform for the poll. The movement was started by Atiku in his bid to stop the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Source: Twitter
Court restrains INEC over ADC congresses
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered INEC not to recognise or participate in any congress organised by the controversial ADC leadership.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the court gave the ruling to bar David Mark and other prominent leaders of the ADC from participating in the activities of the party.
The ruling came amid the leadership crisis rocking the ADC and got Nigerians talking as the 2027 general elections drew closer.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
